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OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, July 10, 2009 · 8 Homebuilders of Halton Region An Open Letter to Halton Regional Council Dear Councillors: For decades our industry has built homes for the people of our community here in Halton. Over the years, we have learned a lot about what makes a great community. Good roads and services. Top notch schools and recreational facilities. Everyone doing and paying their fair share. A regional government that looks to the future. We have embraced this community as our community (including all the local employment created). And we've always felt - and continue to feel - that politics should be left to politicians. We believe we can always achieve more together through consensus, co-operation and discussion made in good faith. It is in that spirit that we now write. We strongly support the principle that development should pay for itself and that no existing taxpayer should bear any burden of the cost of new growth. On that we agree. But the proposal to increase taxes on new homes by $8,000 - on top of an additional proposed increase of $9,000 by Oakville - is unfair and far exceeds the costs of new growth. We believe this plan will hurt our community: Jobs will be lost. Dreams of homeownership dashed. And our local economy hurt. But we also acknowledge there are different points of view. All of which deserve to be heard. This proposal by the Region of Halton was first made last fall. We all know the world has changed since then. We have watched our manufacturing jobs disappear. We have witnessed worldwide economic devastation on a scale not seen in 85 years. This is simply not the time to implement a plan that was developed based on a different economic situation. The world over, responsible, thoughtful governments are rethinking their plans and adjusting them to the new reality. Families and businesses large and small are, as well. Doesn't it make sense for the Region of Halton to do the same? To fully understand the impact to our community? To give everyone a chance to have their say? And then to proceed with a plan that makes sense for today; not for yesterday. We share the same goal, a community that is among the best in Canada in which to live, work and raise a family. Surely, in pursuit of that goal, we should hear all sides and be informed as best we can. Sincerely, D. Vuckovic LOWER FOURTH LIMITED · PENDENT DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED D. Hill A. Semper S. Libfeld P. Costigan D. Salvatore E. Reisman T. Cullen SUMMERWOOD ESTATES INC. R. Bratty P. Gilgan S. Menkes B. Johnston R. Pantalone D. Skeffington J. Zdunic Y. Gruehl S. Dupuis F. Giannone